Romilly / Romola - Opinions needed!

[cakegoblin]

Our criteria:
Not too popular / Not ridiculously obscure
Has to contend with a 'Mc' three-syllable surname
Crucially - ideally would shorten to Molly - DH has been inexplicably smitten with this name since day one and won't let it go, i'm not in love with it but it's fine, it's just that I want to give our child a long name which can shorten to other things as she prefers, rather than give her a shortened name from the beginning.

Romola is my favourite:

• Shortens to Romy which I love or Molly for DH
• Means Woman of Rome which is strong and characterful (plus we got married in Italy so it seems to fit)
• Romola Garai is the perfect 'celebrity' example of the name if there is such a thing, beautiful and talented and not tabloidy

On the other hand, Romilly:

• Is really pretty
• Could shorten to Milly as well as Romy - DH might be persuaded!
• Definitely getting more popular now
• We already know one so I'd be stealing the name really

So I'm weighing the benefits of giving the baby a name that's instantly recognisable to everyone but might become very popular soon vs a name that will stand out from the crowd. Which do you think and do you think Romola shortens to Molly easily enough?

I would choose Romola. Romilly is a bit frilly for my taste, and I love Romy. I'm not so keen on Molly, but I think Romola shortens to Molly better than Romilly does. However, you and your DH need to decide whether the nn is going to be Romy or Molly.

Or would you consider Rosemary?
Romy can be used as a nn and Molly too (as it is an old nn for Mary).

i think they are both lovely names and it would be hard to choose between them. i like them both. i am having a boy and am quite jealous really as we are stumped on boys names but there are tons of lovely names for girls of which these are two.

apologies for the lack of capitals - cannot work this ipad for the life of me...

I love Romilly, love that you can either have Romy or Milly as nn. We know a little girl who is called Romie as a full name.

Romilly is lovely. Not keen on Romola. I don't really like Molly or Milly tbh, so i'd just stick to Romilly or Romy if she absolutely has to have a nickname.

I have never heard of Romilly McALpine but agree that it sounds absolutely fine. It is just my name it wouldn't go with. I have also heard of Romilly as a boys name. The painter, Augustus John, had a son called Romilly.

I like Romola, because of the novel. I think it's a stronger than Romilly, although that's pretty too.

We know a little girl called Romilly. Nn Millie. Her surname is double barreled.

Yes, CecilyP in a round about way, it is because of Augustus John that our Romilly got her name.

Love, love, love Romola nn Romy. Can't use as DH's ex-MIL is Romy! It's less trendy than Romilly in my mind. Romiley is also a place near Stockport, which would be most Mancunian's association I'm afraid -and you never know, your DD may move here one day!

birdofthenorth - not just a Mancunian's association - ours was very nearly born in Sheffield and we still got faces.

I know it's growing in popularity, I just don't think that Romilly is that trendy (but maybe I would say that ). I think it's a bit of a marmite name - people either really like it or they have a real aversion to it.

I don't know why I explained the marmite bit - in 'mummy mode', sorry.

We chose Romilly in the end - she arrived 3 weeks ago - and I am totally in love with it and her! Had some really lovely comments on it. Not at all bothered about the place name association - never heard of it and lived in Manc for 4 years! Thanks so much for your input everyone x

Romola makes me think of Cremola (as in foam) but is pretty. Prefer Romily though I know a Romy (as in Row-mee) who is gorgeous with dark curly hair and really suits the name.